# Congress Nominee Milan Pradhan Walks Out of Jail After Calcutta High Court Relief Ahead of Nandigram By-Election

> Securing three weeks of interim bail from the Calcutta High Court in six cases dating back to 2007, Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was freed from custody and immediately declared his return to the campaign trail in Nandigram.

**Type:** article · **Category:** West Bengal · **Published:** 2026-09-30 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/west-bengal/kalakatta-high-court-se-rahata-ke-bada-congress-pratyashi-milan-pradhan-jela-se-bahara-nandigram-upachunava-men-jhonkenge-puri-tak-40385 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Nandigram By Election, Milan Pradhan, Calcutta High Court, Congress, Suvendu Adhikari, West Bengal Politics

Ahead of the crucial by-election scheduled for October 6 in West Bengal's Nandigram constituency, Congress candidate Milan Pradhan has been released from judicial custody. The release came a day after the Calcutta High Court granted him interim bail across six criminal cases registered back in 2007. Stepping out of prison, Pradhan made it clear that he will plunge straight into the electoral contest, stating that his immediate focus will be entirely directed toward campaigning across Nandigram.

## Three-Week Interim Bail Granted by High Court
The High Court granted Pradhan three weeks of interim bail while directing him to surrender before the court in Haldia on October 21. Among the six pending criminal matters in which relief was provided, five cases originate from Nandigram while one is linked to neighboring Khejuri. Notably, four of these cases involve murder charges. Pradhan had already documented the existence of these legal proceedings in the official affidavit submitted alongside his nomination papers.

## Court Scrutiny Over Timing of Custody and Evidence
During the legal arguments, the High Court observed a critical timeline: Pradhan was entirely free and not in custody when he filed his official nomination papers, with his arrest taking place subsequent to that filing. The court further pointed out that the state government failed to place on record any concrete documents or material showing that Pradhan was actively wanted in connection with any criminal offense committed after 2007.

The bench also highlighted that the historical incidents underpinning these first information reports had already been investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Reviewing his record, the court described Pradhan as a political worker who participated in the 2007 movement and remained actively engaged in political and public life thereafter.

## Narrow Campaign Window and Protective Orders
With voting in the Nandigram assembly constituency slated for October 6, active campaigning will officially draw to a close on October 4. The Calcutta High Court had earlier observed that the arrested Congress contestant ought to be afforded an adequate and fair opportunity to contest the by-poll. 

In a parallel proceeding relating to a 2007 FIR registered at the Khejuri police station in Purba Medinipur district, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya had issued protective directions. The single bench ordered authorities not to treat Pradhan as under arrest until October 7, further instructing the concerned police officials to refrain from taking any coercive steps against him in that case through October 12.

## Electoral Contest Against BJP Candidate Hasirani Rath
The ballot battle in Nandigram features a direct face-off with Bharatiya Janata Party nominee Hasirani Rath. The election schedule mandates polling on October 6, followed by the counting of ballots and declaration of results on October 9.

The vacancy in Nandigram arose following political developments after the 2026 assembly elections. Suvendu Adhikari had contested concurrently from two constituencies, Nandigram and Bhabanipur, securing victories in both seats. Following the double win, Adhikari chose to vacate his Nandigram seat, triggering the ongoing by-election process in the high-profile constituency.

## What this means for you
The release of the Congress contestant directly impacts the competitive dynamics and administrative conduct of the Nandigram by-poll.

- **Across West Bengal:** The judicial ruling reinforces the right of political candidates to participate meaningfully and without arbitrary detention during an active election cycle. It establishes a notable legal precedent regarding police action initiated against nominees following the formal filing of papers.
- **In Nandigram:** The return of Milan Pradhan injects immediate energy into the campaign, providing voters with a full spectrum of party alternatives before public campaigning ends on October 4. With merely a handful of days available to meet electors, campaign activity across the constituency will intensify rapidly.
- **For local voters:** Registered electors will now witness an active multi-cornered contest ahead of the October 6 polling day. The outcome of these compressed campaigns will become visible when votes are counted on October 9.
- **For local administration:** With the court mandating Pradhan to surrender in Haldia on October 21 and barring police action in the Khejuri case until October 12, administrative focus shifts squarely to smooth poll execution. Law enforcement authorities in Purba Medinipur must ensure strict security and impartial vigilance throughout voting day.

## Why this happened
The release of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was prompted by the absence of fresh incriminating evidence and procedural irregularities regarding the timing of his arrest during an active election.

- **Absence of recent offenses:** The High Court noted that Pradhan was a free citizen when filing his nomination papers, and the prosecution failed to submit any records proving he was wanted for any crime after 2007. The lack of contemporary criminal allegations justified the grant of three weeks of interim bail.
- **Prior central agency investigation:** The underlying cases, including four murder allegations from 2007, had previously undergone thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Acknowledging his continuous status as a political worker since the 2007 agitation, the court affirmed his right to contest effectively.
- **Causation of the by-poll:** The election itself was necessitated after Suvendu Adhikari emerged victorious from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 assembly elections. Under statutory provisions, Adhikari vacated the Nandigram constituency, compelling the Election Commission to conduct a by-election.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Who is Milan Pradhan and why was he released from prison?
Milan Pradhan is the Congress candidate for the Nandigram assembly by-election. He was released after the Calcutta High Court granted him three weeks of interim bail in six criminal cases registered in 2007.

### 2. When has the High Court ordered Milan Pradhan to surrender?
The Calcutta High Court has directed Pradhan to surrender before the local court in Haldia on October 21.

### 3. What is the schedule for voting and counting in the Nandigram by-election?
Polling in Nandigram is scheduled for October 6, with campaigning concluding on October 4. The counting of votes will take place on October 9.

### 4. Why is a by-election being conducted in the Nandigram constituency?
The by-election was triggered after Suvendu Adhikari won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur seats in the 2026 assembly elections and subsequently vacated Nandigram.

### 5. Who is contesting from the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Nandigram by-poll?
Hasirani Rath is contesting the Nandigram assembly by-election as the candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

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